Last updated on October 23rd, 2023 at 09:01 pm
Among the many beneficial attributes of sage is uncomplicated propagation. In the method by offshoots, the bar is particularly low. The following instructions explain step by step how to do it.
Sage head cuttings – powerful offshoots for propagation.
Shortly before flowering pulsates with vibrant life in the sage. This is especially true for the herbaceous shoot tips of the evergreen half-shrub. Consequently, head cuttings offer themselves as the most powerful offshoots of the Mediterranean herb plant. This makes propagation effortless:
- From June/July, cut off shoot tips with a length of 6-10 centimeters.
- Defoliate each head cutting in the lower half
- Fill pots with a lean herbal soil-sand mix and moisten.
- Insert cuttings one by one so deep that at least 2 pairs of leaves are visible
A transparent hood put over it creates a warm and humid microclimate that promotes rooting. In the following 2-3 weeks, the substrate must not dry out. As soon as the roots grow out of the soil opening and a fresh sprout appears, the hood has done its job. Once the young sage has completely rooted its pot, it is ready for planting in the chosen location.
Cleverly harnessing the power of the mother plant for offshoots
Propagation using cuttings leaves the mother plant to take care of the offspring. Here we explain step by step how easy this method works:
- In early summer, designate a one-year-old, healthy shoot as a cuttings.
- Pull this to the ground to make a furrow 10 centimeters deep there.
- Cover the central part of the scion with soil and, if necessary, a stone.
- The tip of the shoot protrudes about 10-15 centimeters from the soil to be fixed to a wooden stick.
- While the mother plant provides the offshoot with nutrients in the following weeks, a new root system develops in the furrow. If a new leaf appears at the tip and you feel a counter-pressure on a slight pull, rooting is proceeding successfully. After separating from the mother plant, dig up the young plant and plant in the new location.
Tips & Tricks
The thrifty among amateur gardeners turn a discarded PET drinking bottle into a mini-greenhouse for sage cuttings. To do this, cut off the bottom and put the bottle over the growing pot. To ventilate, simply twist off the lid; to water, pick up the bottle.